If you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune and suffered from renal (kidney) toxicity, you may qualify for a Camp Lejeune renal toxicity lawsuit and be entitled to compensation.
Between 1953 and 1987, countless people who served, lived, or worked at the Jacksonville, North Carolina marine base were exposed to contaminated water. For decades, families on the base ingested and bathed in drinking water polluted with toxic industrial chemicals.
Studies have shown that renal toxicity, chronic kidney disease, and kidney cancer, among many other illnesses, can be associated with exposure to several of these chemicals. If you were stationed or lived at Camp Lejeune and were later diagnosed with renal toxicity, we urge you to contact Marc Whitehead & Associates without delay.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) is a new federal law allowing anyone who lived or worked at the military base to seek reparations from the U.S. government. The Act overrides a previous N.C. statute preventing victims from filing individual claims against the federal government.
Under the CLJA, you may now pursue a settlement award or a court verdict for the injuries you have endured from exposure to the contaminated water.
Our Camp Lejeune attorneys have extensive experience in toxic exposure litigation, and we can help you take the next step toward getting justice. We represent Camp Lejeune renal toxicity lawsuit cases across the U.S.
Did the Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune Cause Renal Toxicity?
Over 70 chemicals infiltrated the water supply on the base. Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point water treatment plants supplied water to the base hospital, barracks, family housing, administrative offices, recreational areas, schools, and other areas.
Service members and civilians who used Camp Lejeune water during those 30 years have consequently developed an array of severe health impairments and types of cancer, including renal toxicity, renal failure, and kidney cancer.
Four of the main chemicals are classified as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as follows:
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is a dry cleaning agent and metal degreasing solvent. PCE contamination resulted from inadequate storage and incorrect waste disposal from a nearby, off-campus dry cleaning business called ABC One-Hour Cleaners. Exposure to TCE has been associated with causing renal issues and various cancers, including kidney cancer.
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) – An industrial solvent, TCE is used in dry cleaning and to clean metal machinery. TCE entered the Camp Lejeune water supply via leaks from storage tanks, waste disposal sites, and industrial area spills. TCE is known for raising the risk of several cancers, including kidney and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Vinyl chloride – A colorless gas, vinyl chloride is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Vinyl chloride can leak into soil and groundwater following improper disposal of chemical wastes such as TCE and PCE. Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen.
- Benzene – Benzene evaporates quickly, and the vapor is heavy and may sink into the ground. It dissolves slightly in water. Benzene is used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, nylon, pesticides, and other chemicals. It is also a fuel additive. The EPA has classified benzene as a human carcinogen.
Studies Link Exposure to Camp Lejeune Water to Renal Toxicity
In developing a Camp Lejeune renal toxicity lawsuit, it’s essential to know that scientific studies show compelling evidence connecting Camp Lejeune water to renal toxicity, kidney cancer, and other kidney diseases.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a division of the CDC, has ongoing research to evaluate renal toxicity outcomes for service members and civilians who spent time at Camp Lejeune.
One ATSDR study is named Morbidity Study of Former Marines, Employees, and Dependents Potentially Exposed to Contaminated Drinking Water at USMC Base Camp Lejeune.
This study shows that contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune was linked to an increased risk for bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and kidney disease.
- Exposure to both TCE and PCE was associated with an increased risk for kidney cancer in both Marines and civilian employees
- Exposure to both TCE and PCE was associated with increased risk for bladder cancer and kidney disease in civilian employees
- Exposure to PCE was associated with increased risk for bladder cancer and kidney disease in Marines
The study noted that risk increased with increasing levels of exposure to the contaminants for kidney cancer (TCE and PCE in Marines and TCE/PCE in civilian employees) and kidney disease (PCE in Marines and TCE/PCE in civilian employees).
Your Camp Lejeune renal toxicity lawsuit needs to show that the contaminated water “at least as likely as not” caused your claimed injury. This means that if the evidence is 50/50 on whether the toxins caused the injury, a causal relationship has been established.
ATSDR has further published on the health effects linked with TCE, PCE, benzene and vinyl chloride exposure, stating the following associations between renal toxicity and VOCs.
The term being used is “equipoise.” If the evidence is equipoise and above, then the burden of proof is met. If your condition is below equipoise, you can still recover compensation; however, your claim does not benefit from presumptive causation.
Health effects with sufficient evidence for causation for TCE:
- Kidney cancer
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Cardiac defects
Health effects with evidence that is equipoise and above for causation for TCE:
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- End-stage renal disease
- Parkinson disease
- Scleroderma
Health effects with evidence that is equipoise and above for causation for PCE:
- non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- End-stage renal disease
A disability lawsuit attorney can help you understand if vital financial compensation is available to you. CLJA claims for renal toxicity and kidney disease are still being filed, and now is the time to take action.
What Are Symptoms of Renal Toxicity?
Kidneys play a crucial role in mediating the toxicity of environmental pollutants, certain drugs, and natural substances in our bodies. Kidneys act as filters to keep a healthy balance of nutrients in our blood and remove toxins, excess urine, and wastes.
Renal toxicity, also called nephrotoxicity, occurs when your body is exposed to toxic agents that can damage the kidneys, resulting in possible kidney disease. Toxins affect tiny working parts of the kidneys called nephrons. Exposure can be through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption.
When renal toxicity occurs, the body cannot properly eliminate toxins and wastes, disrupting the healthy balance. Nephrotoxicity may be temporary or chronic. When extended exposure to toxins causes long-term harm, this is referred to as chronic kidney disease (CKD).
A decline in kidney function does not always cause apparent signs or symptoms; therefore many people with mild nephrotoxicity may not realize they are sick. When severe or advanced enough, renal toxicity can show signs of other types of decreased kidney function, such as:
- decreased urination
- swelling due to fluid retention
- high blood pressure
- problems with the liver or skin
Do You Qualify for a Camp Lejeune Renal Toxicity Lawsuit?
Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, eligibility to file a lawsuit includes military personnel who served on the base, family members who lived there, civilians who worked there, and children who were exposed in utero, among others.
Simply stated, CLJA claims are open to anyone who:
- Lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and
- Has been diagnosed with a health condition linked to the contaminated water exposure.
For a free, no-obligation case evaluation, call us at 1-800-562-9830. Our lawyers will review your situation and discuss your options with you.
How to File a Camp Lejeune Renal Toxicity Lawsuit
All CLJA lawsuits will be filed in the Federal Court of the Eastern District of North Carolina. Under the Act, CLJA claims must adhere to the U.S. Navy’s administrative claim process.
The first step is to file your administrative claim with the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit.
The Navy has six months to respond to your claim – JAG will either accept your claim and offer a settlement or deny the claim.
If your administrative claim is denied, you have a 6-month window from the date of the denial notice to file a Camp Lejeune renal toxicity lawsuit under the CLJA.
There is a 2-year statute of limitations on CLJA claims. If your administrative claim is denied, lawsuits may not be filed after August 10, 2023, or six months after your administrative claim is denied – whichever is later.
The Camp Lejeune filing deadline is fast approaching.
Marc Whitehead & Associates will handle all legal concerns and responsibilities so you don’t get lost in the legal process. We will ensure you meet all filing deadlines and responsibilities for your Camp Lejeune renal toxicity lawsuit:
- We build as strong a case as possible for a favorable outcome.
- We gather all needed evidence and solicit the opinions of medical and vocational experts
- You will have a dedicated case manager to coordinate all aspects of your case
- Your attorney will negotiate with the government agency handling your claim to get the most out of any settlement. With our experience in proving causation and damages, we will advocate for the correct and total Camp Lejeune payout you deserve.
Compensation for Renal Toxicity Following Camp Lejeune Exposure
At this point in the process, settlement amount projections are just that: projections and estimates.
As each case unfolds, awards for damages may be sought for:
- Medical care: past, current, and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering involved with renal toxicity treatment
- Emotional trauma for both patient and family
- Loss of quality of life, loss of companionship
- Disability
An experienced Camp Lejeune renal toxicity lawyer with our firm will calculate a fair and just settlement demand.
Contact Us about a Camp Lejeune Renal Toxicity Lawsuit
We are immediately available to advise you of your rights and help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Call us today or complete and submit the Legal Consultation form on this page. If you decide to retain our law firm, you pay no money upfront – we don’t get paid unless we succeed in winning compensation for you.
